http://www.steim.org/steim/workshops

Soundbikes

«A workshop in which do-it-yourself manipulation of ordinairy bicycles leads to high-end sound-generators and performing instruments. Bring a bike and transform it together with the knowledge and enthousiasm of inventor-artist Kaspar König.

Creating acoustic extensions for the bicycle sounds like a contradiction-in-terms to the design of a bicycle. In this workshop everybody is invited to discover the many sounds hidden in the bicycle itself and the bicycling. To make a regular bicycle-sound we can easily neglect the maintainance of a bicycle. By not only turning the bicycle upside down but by actively adding sound-sensors, we`ll discover the possibilities of soundbiking. Add-ons can be everything from a playing-card and laundry wedges, to fully powered amplification for strings, microphones and all other things that fit the conditions of the soundbicycle and its creative maker.

How can a bicycle brake become a brake beat?
By turning the wheel regularly, a bicycle likely becomes a time-pulse or measure. By finding the right spots to control the sound input, more musical patterns can be discovered while the wheel is turning. Now it`s up to our imagination to invent all kinds of little things we could try to mount on the existing mechanisms as well as discover new mechanisms.

Can every bicycle become a musical instrument?
Basically yes, if some parts are still rotating, sounds can be created. Although a full functional bicycle can ride on the streets and the street is the best trigger for the soundbike!

Is there a composition in the street?
That is a good question. For many reasons I believe several streets sound better then others with and without the use of a soundbike, depending on the charactaristics of the bike and the street. Drive your soundbike outside and experience the biggest score of the world: the street! Let your ear decide!»

Location: STEIM, Achtergracht 19, Amsterdam
Dates: Monday February 19 through Thursday February 22
Time: 10:00 – 17:00h

Via: microsound list